Decision - Request for return of human remains to Australia

(1)       That Cabinet agree to the return of a water carrier made from a human cranium (WA501838 / R2778/491) within RP&M World Art collection.

1.     Concerning the water vessel made from a human cranium (WA501838 / R2778/491):

• RP&M has followed the government’s guidance on responding to requests for the return of human remains from museum collections (DCMS Guidance) in arriving at its recommendation. 
• The water carrier has been identified as the product of a specific community (the Ngarrindjeri) and place (the Coorong Peninsula in South Australia). The carrier has sacred significance to the Ngarrindjeri. 
• The water carrier is made from modified human remains (worked on and with the addition of gum, shell and a carrying handle).
• After temporary use as a water carrier, the skull would have eventually been buried with the rest of the body.
• The piece was donated in 1925 by FW Lucas. The RP&M does not know how and from whom he acquired the water carrier. However, the vessel was not a trade item.
• In returning the vessel, the RP&M would not be in danger of setting an unhelpful precedent impacting on other museums. The British Museum and University of Oxford Museums are the most specific of all UK museums in defining the terms on which they will consider remains for return. Our recommendation to return a modified human remain where it has been established it was intended for burial accords with their position.
• Following the undertaking of this detailed criteria for assessing the claim for return; it is recommended that RP&M return the water carrier (WA501838/R2778/491) to the Ngarrindjeri.

1.     One alternative is to keep the carrier. The piece was donated to the Museum. The donation was properly entered into the accessions register and later fully documented into Mimsy, RP&M’s current computerised collections management system. The data is freely available but given the sensitivity of the piece, and restrictions which the Ngarrindjeri would wish to place on it, it is unlikely it would be available for study or display. In terms of its storage and care, the piece would be curated to the highest standards, and its long-term preservation and security are assured.

2.     A possible long-term loan of the piece to a UK or Australian museum has been considered as another alternative. Although this might deflect attention from RP&M, a museum loan would not be satisfactory to the Ngarrindjeri and similar restrictions would be placed upon it.